Xichang

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Xichang
Chinese name
Chinese:	西昌
Transliterations Mandarin - Hanyu Pinyin: Xīchāng
Yi name
Yi:	ꀒꎂ (Op Rro)

Xichang is the capital of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, in Sichuan, China. Population (2004): 126,700.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Transportation 3 Spaceport 4 External links

[edit] Geography

Xichang lies in the southwest of the country.

[edit] Transportation

Xichang railway station is the main station in Xichang. There are also some other stations in the city, including Xichang north railway station and Xichang south railway station.

The city possesses its own airport, Xichang Qingshan Airport, which is attached to the spaceport by a railroad line and a motorway directly.

[edit] Spaceport

Main article: Xichang Satellite Launch Center

Xichang's spaceport is located about 64 km northwest of the city and went into operation in 1984. Communications satellites are the most common payload to be inserted into orbit from here. A number of Long March 3 rockets have been launched successfully from the spaceport.

[edit] External links

• http://www.astronautix.com/sites/xichang.htm
• http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/world/china/xichang.htm

Coordinates: 27°53′57″N, 102°16′12″E